Accounting machine



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Jan. 25,1927. 1,615,806

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L. A. WATTERS ET AL ACCOUNTING MACHINE E m I l t M m m M M. 5 t 0 e a m .mfll a M x 5 I NQ. .1 m 1 w m w. Q saw 3 w J m a ug I 1 2, 0 I I 1% 3% MR mum Filed Jan 19 I m l 6 2 22/2/2222; 1 i. 4 u 9 V 1 h w M m 1 t Z a N\ 5 Q m s Q 1 .w 1 5 V l 5 i a m A a. H T m m R QM E m m nu nuunuuunununu .u n uhTuunun-u nu I M s M Q m R M w I... A. M E G n A m J -i--- ii- I--- -1 d I m M Q m A A n n 3w Jan. 25 1927.

1,615,806. Jan. 25, 1927. L A. WATTERS ET AL ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed Jan.19. 1920 15 Sheets-Sheet 15' V 101M794 Jar/143M621. faarm fmzvlalazgg 1,615,806 Jan. 25, 1927. L. A. WATTERS ET AL ACCOUNT ING MACHINE Filed Jan,19, 1920 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 lmzwlbhrrzn, M05: in amp'YM/vL/faza;

Patented Jan. 25,1927.

r 1,615,806 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUTHER A. WATTERS, SAMUEL l. LLOYD, AND EDWIN L. KELLER, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS TO LIBERTY SYSTEMS CORPORATION, 01! WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A, CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

sccoumnie nacnmn.

Application Med January 19, 1990. Bertal No. 352,601.

This invention relates to an accounting ap status and machine and more particular y to a machine adapted for the finding of accounts.

In the accountin 'machine and system described in British atent No. 153,344, Nov. 2, 1920, thedesired account is found by a series of steps comprising primary, secondary and tertiary te perations, in accordance with a given sys cm of classification, such as the numerical or. decimal system. Accordingly, the account cards are arranged in a tray or trays -and each tray is divided into groups the cups divided into divisions and the divlsions divided into cards. Accordingly, in order to efiect selection of a given. account b the successive operation of selective manipulative elements or keys the selectors employed are primarily locate to locate a group, secondarily located to locate a division of the. located group, and tertiaril located to locate the desired card in the ocated division. theg operated to isolate the finally located car I The cards of a unit or division have selective characteristics variantly arranged along the edges thereof, such as the bottom edges so as to permit cooperation therewith of the selectors, in order to effect location and selection of an individually desired card in the unit or ivision. I

Now in amachine or apparatus of the class described, it is necessary to not only aline the selectors with the desired unit, but also with the characteristics of the desired card in the selected unit.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide an accounting apparatus in which the selectors when located. are insured of 000 eration with the selective characteristics o the desired card in the desired unit or division.

Another object of this invention is to provide the tray of the accountingapparatus or machine with means for guidin the se lectors into engagement with the c aracteristics of the desired card of the desired unit. In the accounting :1 paratus of the character described, the divisions or units are provided with pilots which are isolated so as to indicate the unit or division from which a card has been withdrawn or in which a card is to be replaced The selectors are correspondin tertiary location locate all of-t respect to a desired group. Thereafter the selectors, which are mounted on a carrier, must be shifted along and transversely of the tray to elfect the secondary and tertiary locations, and the effective selectors must then be actuated to isolate the desired and finally located card.

Another object of this invention, therefore, is to improve the primary mechanism in order to slmpliy the construction and in order to more e for actuation the desired selector.

ectively render effective.

Another object is to improve the mechanism for positioning the selectors along and transversely of the tray so as to render the selector location more definite and certain.

In a machine of the character described in order to audit the accounts, audit mechanism is provided which is ada ted to isolate cards in all 0 theunits or divisions an endin in agiven number. This is accom lishe by eliminating the secondary location and interconnecting all of the selectors, so as to present selector bars extending along the tray which upon he cards ending in a certain number and isolate all of them as well as the pilots for all of the units. Another object of this invention, therefore, is to improve the audit mechanism so as to render more positive and certain its action and spas to condense and simplify the construction,

Where the accounts are arranged in a series of trays as in the apparatus described, the selecting mechanism is shifted from tray to tray.

Another object of this invention, there-:

fore, is to improve the multiple tray construction, so as to permit accurate location of the selecting mechanism and its selectors withmespect to any desired tray and the cards therein,

Further objects will appear from the de tail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 22, Figure 1, showing part of the mechanism in elevation;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but on the line 33, Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detail of Figure 2, and showing more particularly the audit mechanism;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55, Figure 3, showing the primary mechanism for rendering a chosen pair of selectors effective for actuation;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6, Figure 3, showing the secondary mechanism;

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7, Figure 2, showing the tertiary mechanism,

Figure 8 is a section on the line 88, Figure 2, showing the selectors and their positioning and actuating mechanism;

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9- -9, Figure .2, showing the secondary stops;

Figure 10 is a section on the line 1010, Figure 2, showing the tertiary stops;

Figure 11 is a detail of the tray, showing the guides tor the selectors;

Figure 12 is a detail of Figure 2, showing a further detail of the tray;

Figure 13 is a detail perspective view showing the mounting of the selectors and audit bars;

Figure 14 is a detail plan of the rear end of the machine showing the mechanism for laterally positioning the selectors;

Figure 15 is an elevation of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a section on the line 16-16, Figure 15;

Figure 17 is a detail side elevation, partly in section, showing the restoring mechanism;

Figure 18 is a detail of the cards or accounting elements of a unit;

Figure 19 is a front elevation showing a series of trays and mechanism for cooperating therewith;

Figure 20 is a section on the line 20-20, Figure 19, showing the mechanism in elevation- Figure 21 is a section on the line 21-s21, Figure 20:

Figure 22 is a detail showing the mechanism for effecting primary selection;

Figure 23 is a detail showing the mechanism for efl'ecting secondary selection;

Figure 24 is a detail showing the mechanism for effecting tertiary selection and isolation;

Figure 25 is a detail showing the selectors in normal position; and

Figure 26 is a detail showing the selectors in full lines in tertiary position asshown in full lines, Figure 24, and in isolating position, as shown in dotted lines, Figure 24.

In many of the views, parts have been omitted; this has been done to permit clearness, for if all of the parts behind a plane at which a view is taken were shown, they would obscure the particular mechanism under consideration.

In the specification and claims, the term card is used in its broadest sense so as to cover ordinary loose leaves, cards. sheets and other accounting elements. Similarly, the word tray is used in its broadest sense so as to include the various forms of holding means adaptable for the holding, retaining or segregation of accounts.

Frame work.

The tray.

Referring to Figures 2, 8, 11 and 12, 10 designates a pair of side plates which are connected at their forwards ends with a plate 11 and at their rear ends with a similar plate (not shown); Strips 12 extend along the machine and these strips are provided with flanges for connecting the same with the sides and ends 10 and 11.

Side plates 13 have flanges connecting the same with the strips 12 and these plates are connected with the ends 11 so as to form the sides proper of the tray and so as to rovide ledges. It will be noted that these sides 13 flare upwardly for a purpose hereinafter to be described. Connecting the ends 11 is a strip 14 which extends centrally along the tray.

A series of cross pieces 15 extend transversely of the tray and are attached to sheet metal plates 16 which are riveted to the cross pieces 15 located thereon by ribs 1 7 and spaced outwardly therefrom to form recesses 18. These cross pieces 15 have lugs 19 entering slots in the strip 14 and riveted over so as to secure them in position. while cross pieces 15 are also provided with cars 20 entering slots in the side plates 13.

The tray is thus divided into a series of compartments (in this case, one hundred) by t e partitions 16. which being attached at their lower ends and free at their upper ends are susceptible of flexure in a direction along the tray. The cross pieces 15 are slotted at 21 to form acomb structure comprising, in this case, ten slots symmetrically spaced on each side of the median line of the tray, and it will be noted that the entrances to these slots are flared. The slots are of a width equal to the thickness of the selectors S hereinafter to be described, while the sides of the slots are in the paths of movement of the selectors so as to guide these selectors into the compartment with which these selectors may be in alinement and so as to guide these selectors in the transverse positions in which they may be located.

The pilots.

Referring to Figures 2, 8, 11 and 12 slidable in each recess 18, between a cross piece 15 and the partition 16 is a bar or plate 22, the ends of which slide in slots in the side lates 13 and are connected with vertical ars 23 connected at their upper ends wlth a plate 24 folded over and slidable on the upper ends of the partition 16, the connection between 23 and 24 being made through the medium of pieces 25.

There is provided such a structure for each compartment and each partition, and accordingly the plate 22 fora compartment is in the path of a pair of selectors S when in alinement with that compartment so that upon elevation of the selectors. the latter will engage the plates 22 and raise the plate 24 above its normal position. The plate 24, therefore, acts as a pilot to indicate the position of the compartment.

The cards.

vided into ten cards. Accordingly, each comlit) ' artment is adapted to receive ten cards.

Now in efl'ecting selection of a desired card, the procedure is by primary, secondary and tertiary selections, and an isolation of the desired card after the tertia selection. The primary selection is one 0 location of the group containing the account; the secondary selection is one of location of the division in the selected groupcontaining the desired account; and the tertiary selection is one of location in the selected division of the desired account. In accordance with this invention the primary location is of a group of compartments, while the secondary location is of a compartment in the located group; in order, however, to locate a desired card, it is necessary to locate a card in the located compartment. The location of a series of com artments and of a compartment can be obtained by a relative adjustment or location along the tray; this method of se ,,tics arranged at variant positions along the edges of the cards corresponding to the positions of the cards in the unit, division or compartment. Accordingly. the tertiary location can he obtained by transverse shifting of the selectors along the card edges.

Referring to Figures 2, 8, 11, 12 and 18, C designates one of a unit of cards which has selective characteristics I.- along the bottom edge thereof and correspomling respectively to the positions of the cards in the unit.

Since thereare ten cards, there are ten positions of the selectlve characteristlcs as mdicated and shown in Figure 18. The sclective characteristics are, however duplicate on opposite sides of the median line, thes selective characteristics being symmetrically arranged so as to adapt the same for concur rent cooperation with a pair of selectors S. In view of the fact that the cards of one unit will correspond as to their selective characteristics with the cards of every other unit, it is entirely obvious that the number of different cards in a numerical or decimal system will. never exceed ten.

Assuming that it is desired to locate and isolate a desired card in a unit, which, for instance, is card No. 6: when the selectors S have been moved to the 6 position, Figare 11, so as to he in alinement with the 6 locations or characteristics L, and when the selectors are, at this t me, elevated, the result will be an elevation only of the 6 card in that unit, while all of the other, cards will be undisturbed, as their selective characteristics are not in cooperative relation .with the selectors. As the selectors, however, rise, they will concurrently raise the pilot for that compartment b cooperation with the plate 22. According y, the desired card together with its pilot is raised in the compartment, It will be. noted that on account of the flared construction of the slot entrances 21, the selectors S will be guided into the compartment and in proper cooperative relationwith respect to the characteristics even if the positioning ofthe selectors does not locate them.

in accurate alinement with the characterlstics. T he selector carriage.

46 overlying the flanges 44.

guide bars mounted between the side plates 2. The side bars 30 are thus mounted for transverse movement towards and from each other.

Each cross head 31 is connected by a link 32 with an arm 36 mounted on the upper end of a rock shaft 37 supported at its lower end on the base 1 and at its upper end by a cross-bar 38. The lower end of the rock shaft 37 has fixed thereto an arm 39 connected with a link 40 extending along the frame. There are pairs of cross-heads, arms and rock shafts supported at each end of the frame and the links 40 are connected at about the center of the machine (not shown) and it will be further noted that the arms 39 at each end cross one another so that a link 40 of one arm at one end of the machine is connected with the corresponding arm at the other end of the machine so as to comprise a parallel movement whereby longitudinal movements of the links 40 in unison will ,cause the side bars 30 to move towards and from each other while remaining parallel. The links are connected at the center of the machine b a cross-head (not shown) to which these links are pivoted as in the machine of British Patent 153,344, and this crosshead is connected with one endof a stron spring 41, Figure 14, the other end of which is connected with an anchor 42 fixed to the base 1. The spring, therefore, operates to s read the side bars 30 apart, while these slde bars are normally retained in inward position, as shown in the figures, by latches as hereinafter described.

The selector carrier.

Mounted towards the forward end of each side bar is a bracket 43 which has upper and lower slotted flanges 44. Extending along and inside of each side bar 30 is a supporting bar 45 which has outwardly turned lugs A screw 47 passes through each flange 44 and the corresponding lug 46, the head of the sc'rew lying against the inner face of the flange 44, while the head engages the outer face of the lug 46, and a spacing washer 48 is interposed between the flange and the lug. There is a series of flanges, lugs and connections for each side bar and supporting bar, one set at each end and also one or more in the center (not shown). Accordingly, the supporting bars 45 are arran ed for longitudinal movement along the side bars. Each side bar has anchored thereto a spring 49 which connects with a pin 50 on the sup orting bar so as to normal y tend to move e supporting bars rearwardly, but these supporting bars are sustained against the tension of these springs by latches as hereinafter described.

Each supporting bar 45 has an inwardly extending head 51 fixed to a shank 52 extending forwardly through and slidingly mounted in the cross-head 31 and underneath the cross-bar 53 which is mounted for sliding movement along the machine by being provided at each end with a head 54 having pins or rollers 55 sliding in slots in the side plates 2. Each shank. 52 has a roll 56 engaging slots in the cross-bar 53 thereby permitting transverse movements of the shanks 52 with the supporting bars 45 and the side bars 30, while maintaining the connections with the cross-bar 53.

Each supporting bar 45 has at its forward end supporting lugs 57, the lower one of which extends beyond the upper one. These lugs are slotted to receive a shank 58 connected with a side plate 59. This side plate 59 extends along and inside of the supporting bars 45 and is provided with a series of these shanks 58, one at each end and one or more intermediate (not shown), there bein also a series of supporting lugs 57, arrange along the side bar 45 to cooperate with the shanks 58. The plate 59 has fixed thereto a flanged guide plate 60 which extends along and inside of the plate 59, in practice, the shanks 58, the plate 59 and guide 60 are riveted or otherwise permanently secured together; accordingly, these elements are mounted to move with the supporting bars 45 along the side bars 30 and with, the side bars 30 transversely of the machine, but they are also mounted to move vertically in a manner and for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

There are ten lower lugs 57 s aced uniformly along the machine on eac su porting bar 45 and each of these lugs is s otted to receive the lower end of one of the selectors S, while the guide 60 is slotted to receive the upper ends of the selectors S. Each selector has a pin 61 projecting outwardly therefrom, so as to limit, by engagement with the uide 60, the downward movement of each so ector. Each plate 59 is extended upwardly and bent inwardly so as to form a bar 62 or rather a sectional bar extending along the machine and bridging the selectors in order to form a pair of audit bars for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

Selector actuating mechanism.

cause the shaft to move with its shank but permit rotation of the shaft in the shank. Splined on each shaft are a series of clutches 65, one for each selector, each clutch having an arm 66 which is perforated to engage a lug 67 on an outward! turned In on a selector. Mounted on eac bar 45 a jacent each lower 1 57 is a bell-crank lever, one arm 68 of which has a pin on aging an annular ove in a clutch 65, whi e the other arm 69 as an inwardly directed in 70. By move ment of the bell-crank ever 6869, the clutch .65 is moved into and out of clutch enagement with its selector while in order to fatch or retain this clutch in either engaged or disenga ed position, the shaft 63 as a spring late or retainer 71 adapted to engage either of two grooves on the clutch.

Each shaft 68 is at its rear end splined in the hub 630 having an arm 72 which is connected by a link 73 with a pin traveling in an arcuate slot 74 on the cross-head 31, the arc of the slot being symmetrical with respect to the pivotal connection between the arm and the link. Each link 73 has spaced lugs 75, the lower one of which is connected with a spring 76 anchored on the cross-head so as to normally tend to move the arms 72 down, Figure 15. The lugs are in the ath of and normally engage with a cross- Bar 77 mounted between a pair ofarms 78 on a rock shaft 79 supported in the side plates 2.

One arm 78 has integral therewith a second arm 80 connected with a forwardly extending link 81 which is in turn ivoted to an arm 82 pivotally mounted at its lower end adjacent to the right side'plate, Figures 15 and 17. A spring 83 anchored on the side plate connects with the arm 82 so as to normally tend to move the link 81 rearwardly in order to rock the shaft 79 and cause the engagement of the cross-bar 7 7 with the lug 75 to rock the shafts 63. The rocking of the shafts 63 will-normally be an idle one; if, however, a pair of clutches 65 are in clutching engagement with a pair of. selectors, thenthe rockin of these shafts will raise a pair of clutche selectors S. The arm 82 is ing t a lower ends of the slots 74 to raise the shafts and maintain them in normal posi tions.

Mechanism for rendefing a pair of selectors ffective for actuation.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3,5, 8 and 22,

mounted on a bracket and also on one or more brackets along the machine (not shown) is a channelsshaped support 91 which extends along the machine. This support has mounted thereon a series of ten rock shafts 92 which have fixed thereto arms 93 connected by cross bars 94 and each providedfw'ith a pair, of outwardly directed spaced lugs 95 adapted to make a connection with the pin 70 on the arm 69 ofthe bellcrank lever 68-69. One arm 93 of each t arranged in a line, but in space transversely of the machine. a

rock shaft has integral therewith an arm 96, the arms being bent inwardly to different extents, Figure 8, and each arm being connected with a spring 97 anchored on the support. Each arm is connected by a link 98 7 with a bell-crank lever 99, there being a series of ten such levers arranged in spaced relation and loosely mounted on a cross shaft .Wltll its bell-crank lever 102 and normally maintain the bell-crank lever 93 96 in nor- 35 mal full line position, Figure 22, against the tension of the sprin 97. Each latch 103 has an arm 107 provi ed with a laterally turned lug, there being a series of these arms or prima elements with the lu relation,

Upon depression of any selected arm 107, such as shown in Figure 22, the connected latch 103 will be released, thereby releasing the bell-crank lever 102 which will cause the spring 97 to operate the correspondin bellcranh lever 93-96 so as to move it to dotted position, Figure 22. This will cause the ends 95 by their engagement with the pins mo 70, Figure 8, on the bell-crank levers 6869 to move the clutches 65 from full to dotted position, Figure 22, so as to clutch the shafts 63 with the correspondin selectors. A

chosen pair of selectors is t us rendered effective for actuation.

Mechanism for shifti longz'tu inally.

Referring to El res 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 17 J and 23, the crossar 53 has lugs engaged by a pair of latches 12Lwhicli are connected with bell-crank levers 122 car mg at their rear ends a cross-bari123 in t e path of a lug 124 on each of the carriers 125.

A spring 119 anchored on the side plate 5- connects with one end of the levers .122 and eparates to normally retain the latches 121 in engagement. There are ten carriers 125 but the lug 124 on the 0 carrier is omitted, no

as shown n Figure 3. Each carrier 125 has a transverse lug engaged by a latch 126 connected with a snug 127 anchored on a crosssbar 128 wh ch is slotted to receive the carriers, while springs 1270 (Figure 3) connect the carriers 125 with the cross-bar 128 in order to move them downwardly when they are released. There are a series of ten -of these latches, one for each carrier,

mounted in spaced relation but loose 'on a link 101 with a 75 e side plates. Each latch is con- 50 thereon the selector carrier 

